When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Was in the local dealership the other day ordering some parts for my bike trip this summer. Anyhoo .... I was talking to the HD parts guy and asked him if he would be able to get me a Thunderheader 2-1 exhaust system. He gave me a look like I was about to burn his shop down. According to him this exhaust system is next to impossible to tune for. He said he refuses to order them for this reason. Now I am asking all of the people on here with all of there Thunderheader experience if this is true? I have never heard of this, but am hoping you guys can help! Anyone know of a place near Edmonton Alberta Canada that deals in Thunderheader?
I have a Thunderheader on my Train and have one going on my 87 FXR. The do have a flat spot that comes on around 2500 rpm or so but it can be tuned out by bending a couple of tabs on the back of the pipe.
I have no problems with mine and with the cams (SE 204), thundermax, heavy breather and thunderheader I am getting 87 hp and 104 ft lbs of torque out of my 96. Not bad for only adding the cams. It pulls strong all the way to 5800 rpm. Most peoples objection to them is that they say they are an ugly pipe. I like mine, good luck on your search.
I think it depends on the tech you talk to, they're all going to have preferences/opinions. The head tech at my local dealer can't say enough about it. He's not to fond of the looks, rather the performance. Everything you see is on it for a reason. Now, this same guy doesn't like the D&D Fat Cat. A pipe that a lot of guys here really like. See?
That being said, I have one on mine and LOVE it. I switched from samson 2-2 pipes to the TH and was amazed. Throttle response, increased torque, the sound (trust me, NOTHING sounds like a TH!!) and the no-nonsense looks. FYI: The only mods I've done for performance would include the TH, Mikuni Carb & Stack. No problems with getting it dialed in whatsoever. It was noticeable adding the TH. Hope that helped.
I would not be without mine. i love the sound of the TH and after running on a dyno you will be smiling fron ear to ear.
My closest dealer (1 mile from the HD plant) was sort of wierd about doing it also, so i bought them on line from American Custom Clasics and them picked up a powervision from Fuel Moto and could not be happier.
Jamie at Fuel Moto was great to work with on the powervision unit.
Never seen or read this before.
Our master wrench and tuner has said the D&D are really loud and the hardest pipes he ever tuned was the RH's 2-1. But he still got it done, just took longer.
IMO any tuner should be able to tune any good pipes, just might take longer that what he usually tunes.
Really that make sense that some tuners might say that, cause if U tune the same pipes every day it should be easy as U can almost punch in the settings and U'll be close to start with.
Same with the TH'ers, if the tuners did about 20 sets of them he'd probably get really good a setting them up.
Thanks guys! You were all more or less saying what I was thinking but it is nice to see everyone perspective. Mcsarge I am more or less looking at doing the same as you with the cams and so on. Do you find the Thundermax works well. I am more or less brand new to the whole concept of EFI tuning but its nothing a guy cant learn! Was looking into maybe going with the tts mastertune system and play with that a little bit. Unfortunately I dont have a readily available dyno tuner anywhere close to me so it is gonna be done pretty much by feel.
P.S I think the TH is the best looking grungy old pipe on the market!
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.